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The Republic (Penguin Classics) Paperback – September 14, 2007

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,179 ratings

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Plato's The Republic is widely acknowledged as the cornerstone of Western philosophy.

Presented in the form of a dialogue between Socrates and three different interlocutors, it is an inquiry into the notion of a perfect community and the ideal individual within it. During the conversation other questions are raised: what is goodness; what is reality; what is knowledge?
The Republic also addresses the purpose of education and the role of both women and men as "guardians" of the people. With remarkable lucidity and deft use of allegory, Plato arrives at a depiction of a state bound by harmony and ruled by "philosopher kings."

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Plato (c. 427–347 b.c.) founded the Academy in Athens, the prototype of all Western universities, and wrote more than twenty philosophical dialogues.

Desmond Lee (1908–1993) taught for many years at Cambridge University and also translated Plato’s Timaeus and Critias for Penguin Classics.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Classics; New edition (September 14, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0140455116
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140455113
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 12 and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.8 x 5.08 x 1.13 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,179 ratings

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Plato
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Plato (428-348 BCE) was a philosopher and mathematician in ancient Greece. A student of Socrates and a teacher of Aristotle, his Academy was one of the first institutions of higher learning in the Western world. He is widely regarded as the father of modern philosophy.

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4.6 out of 5 stars
2,179 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book insightful and easy to understand. They appreciate the simple writing style and concise language that conveys the arguments clearly. The pacing is thought-provoking and provides an excellent forum for introspection. Readers value the good value and consider it a classic work. The footnotes and references are helpful, making it a worthwhile purchase.

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17 customers mention "Insight"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and informative. They appreciate the good points and context provided, as well as helpful headings and brief introductions. The book covers various philosophies in one place, and references assist the reader in deciphering some of the most published works.

"Desmond Lee's translation is no doubt very learned yet easy and convenient to read...." Read more

"This read was enormously imperative for a student of philosophy...." Read more

"The forward was really easy to read. It gave a lot of context. I also really appreciated the recommendations of what books to read after this one...." Read more

"...Plato's analysis of the state is quite a profound and interesting one, and this book is a simple translation to read and understand and is..." Read more

12 customers mention "Readability"11 positive1 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and understand. They appreciate the writing style, philosophy, and concise style that conveys the arguments in a palatable way. The dialogue format is also appreciated for its thoughtful and explorative writing style.

"Desmond Lee's translation is no doubt very learned yet easy and convenient to read...." Read more

"The forward was really easy to read. It gave a lot of context. I also really appreciated the recommendations of what books to read after this one...." Read more

"The Republic, by Plato, is a very thoughtful and explorative writing about the perfect state, the role of justice in it, and how it could be..." Read more

"it was decent quality, no marks or unannounced damage , perfectly readable" Read more

7 customers mention "Pacing"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find it thoughtful and engaging, providing an excellent forum for introspection into one's own political and philosophical views. The text is described as profound and interesting, and readers recommend it to everyone.

"...and immortality, the definition of the Forms, the illusions of life as depicted by Plato, and the importance of dialogue in philosophy such as..." Read more

"The Republic, by Plato, is a very thoughtful and explorative writing about the perfect state, the role of justice in it, and how it could be..." Read more

"...They always use the best translations and the books are very aesthetically appealing...." Read more

"...Instead of simply presenting the text like a play, it presents it like a book (with helpful headings and brief introductions)...." Read more

6 customers mention "Value for money"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's value for money. They say it saves them money over bookstore at college prices.

"...Plato, but he does come to the conclusion, that although money can satisfy the appetite, it cannot satisfy the mind, and thought and understanding..." Read more

"...penguin classic books because you get great quality books for a good price...." Read more

"Good price and fast shipping." Read more

"...I would have prefered a hardcover version, but at this price it is a steal...." Read more

4 customers mention "Footnotes"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the footnotes and references in the book. They find the hyperlinked footnotes helpful, though some readers feel they could be better organized.

"...His endnotes and annotations are on the whole exceedingly helpful...." Read more

"...They provide excellent footnotes helping the reader understand the various arguments made by Plato...." Read more

"...There are copious footnotes and references which further assist the reader in deciphering one of the most published and interested philosphical..." Read more

"...The Kindle version is good: hyperlinked footnotes are useful, but it could use page numbering." Read more

3 customers mention "Classic content"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's content timeless and classic. They appreciate its presentation of a classic work on the lifecycle of states.

"...Basically, this book does a great job at presenting a classic." Read more

"This seminal work is a classic as regards the lifecycle of states...." Read more

"A classic edition-though an alternative would be welcome..." Read more

Just bought this a month ago
5 out of 5 stars
Just bought this a month ago
The forward was really easy to read. It gave a lot of context. I also really appreciated the recommendations of what books to read after this one. However when this book was shipped by Amazon the corner of it was a bit folded. I didn't bother returning it because it already arrived and I don't like wasting my time returning products. However if you care about damages I would buy this book in person at a bookstore to save time.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2024
    Desmond Lee's translation is no doubt very learned yet easy and convenient to read. His endnotes and annotations are on the whole exceedingly helpful. Still, an alternative edition, of the same quality standard but with a slightly different character, would be welcome, so that it could be read side by side with Lee's edition.
    Re the translation, one wonders whether Lee, in a bid to accommodate the modern reader, goes too far in rendering Plato's terms in a variety of modern terms. For some of the key concepts, Lee provides the original in endnotes, which is helpful but involves a lot of going back and forth (footnotes might have been preferable). For many concepts, he does not. This is not a call for having the original next to the translation, but for a more literal translation.
    Re Lee's annotations and appendices, they are helpful analytically but not as much philosophically. I would have loved to have brief philosophical essays on the key similes or concepts in the appendix. The list of secondary readings, which is almost entirely by so-called "analytical" philosophers, hence extremely one-sided and curtailed, gives it away: this edition is produced in an "analytical" tradition. The alternative edition I'd hope for would be furbished by philosophers. One finds them in German or French, of course, but I'd like to see that in English, too.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2024
    This read was enormously imperative for a student of philosophy. Learning importances of formations of different governments and how childhoods attribute towards such formations, relativity of the soul, and it's influences and immortality, the definition of the Forms, the illusions of life as depicted by Plato, and the importance of dialogue in philosophy such as dialects and many more. Congratulations to the initiator of this read as you will come out on the other end a far greater knower of the importance of knowledge and it's levels of ranking.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2024
    The forward was really easy to read. It gave a lot of context. I also really appreciated the recommendations of what books to read after this one. However when this book was shipped by Amazon the corner of it was a bit folded. I didn't bother returning it because it already arrived and I don't like wasting my time returning products. However if you care about damages I would buy this book in person at a bookstore to save time.
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just bought this a month ago
    Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2024
    The forward was really easy to read. It gave a lot of context. I also really appreciated the recommendations of what books to read after this one. However when this book was shipped by Amazon the corner of it was a bit folded. I didn't bother returning it because it already arrived and I don't like wasting my time returning products. However if you care about damages I would buy this book in person at a bookstore to save time.
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    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2024
    This is a minor complaint. When reading on kindle the title is in big letters at the top of every page. It is misspelled Replublic instead of Republic, since this is required reading for college students should probably not have incorrect spelling in the title.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2012
    The Republic, by Plato, is a very thoughtful and explorative writing about the perfect state, the role of justice in it, and how it could be materialized. Plato explores how a state should function, in terms of justice, and he discusses what justice is, how it governs human actions, and why it is so important.
    The society, according to him, has 3 classes, workers, warriors, and rulers, who must all coexist and work together. They are governed by appetite, spirit(honor), and thought, respectively. Someone who is governed by one thing, say appetite, but holds a position that should be governed by another idea(say ruler), becomes a bad thing for society, in this case a tyrant. Who should hold each postitions, how they should be trained, and what types of things should be allowed in the society, and in their lives are all discussed by Plato, but he does come to the conclusion, that although money can satisfy the appetite, it cannot satisfy the mind, and thought and understanding brings true happiness, and justice brings true good. Education should ensure that good rules the minds of society, for great knowlege combined with evil intentions causes trouble. The world inself has a visible and mental form, and Thinkers and Philosophers are those who access most the mental world. Justice however, is inherently good, and brings the most true good to a society.
    Plato's analysis of the state is quite a profound and interesting one, and this book is a simple translation to read and understand and is recommendable to anyone. It is truly a must read, especially in greek literature, as Plato is one of the great thinkers of all time.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2024
    To those unfamiliar, The Republic is written in the form of a "Socratic dialogue", which is a long, continuous conversation between Socrates and his pupils. Sort of like an ancient podcast. That being said, this is not a very easy read, and you should probably read one of Plato's other works first before diving in. In particular, I recommend reading The Apology first, which mirrors the tone of this book.

    In The Apology, the superior wisdom and moral clarity of Socrates ultimately leads to his downfall at the hands of the Athenian state. In contrast, The Republic has a more optimistic vision; Socrates constructs a utopian state grounded by virtue and ruled by philosophers.

    I thought the translator did a fantastic job of preserving Socrates's playful style without compromising on the fundamental ideas. The summary/context at the beginning of each section was helpful, too.

    Even without today's advanced technology, Plato was able to pinpoint some of life's most valuable epistemological truths. This is why I love classical philosophy. The Republic is a life raft that guides us toward a kind of dialectic knowledge that is often overlooked in our chaotic, unfocused world.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2024
    Good read. Enjoyed the plot and story line.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2024
    Great book but I had a problem of pages filling out. I’ve had many pages fall out the book which is disappointing. I definitely reccomend the book but maybe not this version
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    3.0 out of 5 stars Great book bad quality
    Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2024
    Great book but I had a problem of pages filling out. I’ve had many pages fall out the book which is disappointing. I definitely reccomend the book but maybe not this version
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    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Artur Zalewska
    5.0 out of 5 stars Introdução que ajuda muito
    Reviewed in Brazil on December 30, 2024
    Essa edição tem uma longa introdução que dá uma visão geral do livro e ajuda muitíssimo na compreensão do conteúdo. Também há alguns comentários inseridos ao longo do diálogo que ajudam bastante. A leitura é fluida. Achei excelente essa edição. Recomendo a compra.
  • Darryl Staflund
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in Canada on October 22, 2024
    I'm just reading this right now. Great book, nice translation, and the commentary throughout the text is a big help. I have no idea why the word 'multicolour' is in the Amazon product title, though, as it has no connection with the book purchased.
  • Al
    3.0 out of 5 stars Well... Tough to understand the book in its whole the first time
    Reviewed in Germany on April 21, 2024
    I do understand that Plato is the most influential philosopher of Western Society. However, it is important to understand that the reader will at times need to be in a disagreement with the author

    The whole book revolves around discussions between Socrates and other characters in the style of, what we call 'Platonic dialogues'. The topic that is being tackled is about Justice and Injustice and to figure out what a just man does and what an unjust man does. The Republic has been taken into different interpretations by statesmen and has been the foundation of many undesired states as well. At times I felt like I was reading a communist manifesto within the dialogues or eugenics between Nazis. Then there are even traces of feminism and gender equality.

    As with many philosophy books, this book can sometimes be a drag to read, especially with some chapters.

    If you're a beginner in Philosophy or have a slight interest in reading about Philosophy and want to start with Socrates and Plato, I would say, do not start with this book yet. Get yourself introduced in the topics they brought up in a form of a summarized book. If you especially want to understand the Ancient Greeks, read a general book about their history.

    Since it was my first time reading this book, I'll read it another time but a bit more thoroughly, if I find the time to read it.
  • Sahil
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best book to get into philosophy
    Reviewed in India on February 26, 2024
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    Sahil
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best book to get into philosophy
    Reviewed in India on February 26, 2024

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  • Lucas
    3.0 out of 5 stars Decent book, but not an easy read
    Reviewed in Sweden on January 16, 2023
    Decent book, but it’s very easy to get lost & there’s many words that probably you will have to look up to understand.